The main characteristics of fake Chinese gold coins:1. Use of copper gilt and low quality silver as the material of production;2. Sand blast work done coarsely with only one layer;3. embossment impaired, strokes of Chinese characters are rough, surface is not level;4. ink is not evenly distributed, easily leading to various phenomenon such as discoloring and exposure of white;5. there is no similar craftwork or pattern to the fake.

Differentiating between authentic and fake certificates:Characteristics of authentic certificates:1. verify that the certificate contains the signature of the current director of the People's Bank of China.2. printed on the same official print paper as for the Renminbi.3. imprinted with colorless fluorescent emblem of the Central Bank and a fake-proof watermark, moreover, every certificate contains micro print design.Characteristics of fake certificates:1. photocopy of the original made on regular print paper. Writing is not crisp and the certificate number is not aligned on one horizontal line;2. usually lacking the emblem of the Central Bank and the fake-proof watermark; those that have them are not clear;3. the price appears directly on the certificate, and added on top are the seals of the People's Bank of China, Chinese Gold Coin Corporation and the name of a minting factory;4. Other than the certificate of authentication, oftentimes in addition includes the verification report of the regional quality inspection department or the notarial deed report from the notary office.

The distribution channels of fake coins:1. No stable retail facility. Usually temporary sale points take place in libraries, memorial centers, post office, hotels, etc.2. Through various methods such as telemarketing, door-to-door or Internet sales, the method ensures the same-time exchange of money and the product.3. Impersonating employees of the Chinese Gold Coin Corporation hawking products.4. Overseas, the distribution channels of fake coins are mostly auction retail websites such as Ebay and Ioffer.

The second fake form uses the concept of swiping badge for coin.

According to related provisions of the <<Regulation of Renminbi Administration>> of the People's Republic of China: "The People's Bank of China can issue commemorative coins as needed", "the coin's theme, face value, design, material quality, pattern, specification, issue quantity and time" etc. are determined by the People's Bank of China.

These days in society, there are some businessmen who have labeled the commemorative badges that they sell as gold or silver coins. There are also other businessmen who have combined Chinese themes with foreign face values to sell off their badges as commemorative coins for distribution in the market. They attempt to confuse the concept of badge and coin among consumers. Chinese precious metal commemorative coins are legal tender of the People's Republic of China. Their coin currency is the Renminbi "Yuan".

The most obvious distinction between commemorative coins and badges is: coins are issued by the People's Bank of China and possess the country name and face value while the badges do not possess these features.

Classic examples of how commemorative badges imitate coins:In 1998, the People's Bank of China issued a set of coins to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Zhou En Lai's birth. In 2008, more than 30 types of badges that imitate coins to commemorate his 110th birthday appeared on the market.

To commemorate the success of China's first spacewalk, the People's Bank of China issued one gold and one silver coin. At the same time, there appeared on the market more than 20 types of imitation coin badges of "China No.7".

According to the People's Bank of China's rules of issuance for Chinese zodiac coins, the People's Bank shall only issue a coin for the current zodiac year. Yet on the market can be found imitation badges of calligraphy masters such as Qi Bai Shi and Xu Bei Hong's The Big Gathering of Twelve Zodiac Animals.

In addition, the highly popular Five Oxen zodiac gold coin currently on the market is once again imitation badge.

The main selling trait of imitation badges is false marketing: using the media, these badges are touted to be "exquisitely made by the state, the state broke issue limit, authorized by a state department, limited issuance, out of print and hard to come by, huge potential for appreciation, collectible value is high". Indeed, some even hire fake specialists, so-called directors of the People's Bank of China, directors of the Gold Coin Corporation, to give topical lectures, using exaggerated descriptions to attract and mislead consumers.

In disguised form - the manufacturing and selling of fakes:A prominent feature of such fake manifestation is: to select a certain product from the group of Chinese precious metal commemorative coins, retain the design pattern and craftwork, but intentionally changing the currency symbol from "Yuan" to "g". Otherwise only retaining the face value while eliminating the currency symbol altogether. Some even eliminate both.